Automobile-lock.



E; & E. W. ROGERS. AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1915.

1,182,586, 1 Patented May-9,1916.

E. & E. w. ROGERS.

AUTOMOB !LE LOCK. I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4,1915.

Patented May 9,1916.

3 sums-swan 2.

El & E. w. ROGERb.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, I915.

Patented May 9,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

snarl .s PATENT hhliGE.

nnwnv ROGERS AND EDWIN WILLIAM ROGER-S, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

. application filed February i, nus. Serial No. 6,001.

provements in Automobile-Locks, of which the following is aspecification. I

Our invention relates to means for preventing theft of automobiles andhas particular reference to novel means adapted to prevent theunauthorized operation of an automobile under its own motive power.

As is well known, automobiles are frequently stolen, the cars beingdriven away under their own power, due to the lack of a locking devicewhich shall surely prevent the operat on of the motor by unauthorizedpersons. This is a source of enormous loss in the aggregate, it beingdiflicult to recognise machines of the same manufacture after oncehaving been stolen. Many of the machines at present on the marketprovide akey which controls the ignition system but inasmuch as thesekeys are frequently duplicated on cars of the same make, a possessor ofa key for that type of car has nodillicult in appropriating the car.Furthermore, it is not uncommon even though the ignition system islocked to provide a few dry batteries which are connected at the properpoint, thus furnishing the necessary current for operation, at least toan extent to permit the removal of the car to a point where the lock tothe ignition system may be broken or picked at leisure. Furthermore,locks have been providcd which serve to disconnect the engine from thesource of gasoleno supply. These likewise are ineffective for the reasonthat to the carburetor always contains a quantity of gasolene which willserve to operate the engine for a considerable distance, at least adistance suilicient to permit the thief to disconnect the look from thegasolene supply or at furnish an additional supply of gasolene to thecarburetor.

An object in the present invention is to provide a lock which shallpositively lock the, engine against the remotest possibility of opso[oration by an unauthorized person. This means includes a combinationlock and an individual key each of which is inoperative without theother, the locking means being applied to the intake manifold of theengine above the carbureter.

A further object is to provide such a mechanism which shallautomatically lock the parts and reset the combination upon the mereremoval of the key, the presence of the key within the lock being mitoperation at any time.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a view somewhat diagrammaticnecessary to per in form, illustrating our lock which is applied tothe-dash, the parts being connected by a flexible shaft to a shutter inthe intake manifold; Fig. 2 is a side view of the lock contemplated;Fig. 3 is a face view thereof; Fig. l is an enlarged transverse sectionthrough the key and combination lock; Fig. 5 is a view from the frontofthe mechanism shown in Fig. 4, the dial being removed; Fig. 6 is afragmentary section taken'on the line (3 6, Fig. 4i; Fig. '7 is avertical section through the shutter which is applied to the manifold;Fig. 8 isa section on the line 8-S of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a view of a keywhich may be employed; Fig. 10 .is an enlarged dctail of the shaftlocking means in the valve mechanism; Fig. 11 is an enlarged detailshowing the me: '18 for interlocking the keyway shafts and the means forcausing the disarranging of: the combination disks, and, 1 1g. 121'sasnnilar view of themeans employed for locking the key-way shaft inplace.

Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be seen that ourdevice may consist in a locking element and a shutter applied to theintake manifold, these parts be-' ing connected by a flexible shaft. Thelooking element'is suitably secured to the dash 10 of the car and iscontained within a casing 11, the roar of which is closed and thebbttoin of which is provided with a nipple 12, through which theflexible shaft extends. The front of the casing may be closedv by a wall13, secured to the casing by screws 14.. Mounted exteriorly of the wall13 is a disk or plate 15 ofglass held in place by a flanged shaft 17 ismounted within the plate 19, the shaft at its forward end carrying agear member 22, having on one face a miter gear 23. The miter gearengages a similar gear 25, mounted in a bracket 26, integral with theyplate 19. The shaft 27, of the gear 25, engagesin a suitable manner theinternal shaft in the flexible connecting member 28, which projectsdownwardly through the nipple 12. It will be seen that upon rotation ofthe shaft 17, that the gears are operated and the fiexi initiallyinserted. This key willbe of a form slmilarto that shown in Fig. 9. Thiskey-way or shaft 30, fitswithin the flared end 32, of the shaft 17. Thisshaft 17, isv

normally interlocked against rotative movement, with the spider 20, bythe cooperation of a lug and notch 17*, 17", respectively on thespiderand. shaft. The shaft is urged into interlocked position by meansof a coiled Spring 17, located in thebearing for the shaft in the plate19. The reason for thus interlocking the shaft 17, will be hereinafterexplained. As a reason for interlocking the key-way shaft 30, with thespider 20, we provide, as best shown in Fig. 12, a lug 32, on heperiphery of the shaft 30, and near the inner end thereof, this lugregistering in a certain position of the shaft with a notchor recess 20cut in the spider 20. It will be seen that with the parts in theposition shown in Fig. 12, the shaft 30, cannot be removed endwise thisbeing the position assumed by the shaft when the parts are in lockedposition.

The outer end of the shaft 30, has rotatably mounted thereon a thumb-nut33, 'the end of the shaft being flanged or riveted in such manner thatthe nut is securely held thereon against lengthwise movement. On theface of the hand nut we provide a thin plate 33, having a circular hole33", therein in line with the key-way 31, in certain positions ofthe'parts. The hole 33*, is enlarged as at 33, to permit the insertionof a key 47, such as shown in Fig. 9, having a lug 47 thereon, the lugentering the notch 33. and rotating with the key in the space 33 between the plate and the end of the shaft 30. This is necessary for thereason'that the shaft"1 7,-cannot be rotated by the key until the spring17, has been compressed and the lug and notch 17', 17, disengaged. The

spring 17 would tend to force the key out I of the-slot were it not forthd plate 33*. Also by "meansof'th-is expedient it will be seen that thekey cannot be removed until the shaft hash-eon turned to the point ofcoincidence of the key-wa 31, and the notch 33 The hand nut 33, isprovided with a shank 35, to which is" secured a pointer'34, locatedbehind the glass 15, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Secured to theshaft 30, near the end of theshank 35, is a ring 30 This ring,

together with the flanged end of the shaft 30, serves to positivelyprevent movement of the thumb nut in either direction on the shaft butpermits free rotation thereof. Secured to the shank 35, is a gear 36,which meshes with a similar gear 37, mounted on a stub-shaft 38, securedin the plate 13,by means of a counter-sunk screw, 39. Rigid with thegear 37-, is a further gear 40, and a disk 41. Other disks 42, 43, areloosely mounted on a shaft 44, which finds a hearing at one end in thestub-shaft 38, and at the other endin the spider 20. Each of the disks41, 42, 43, are provided with lugs as is common to combination disks ofthis type and on their peripheries are notched as at 45, these notchesregistering with the key.- way 31, in the shaft 30, and with each otherwhen the combination is properly set. The disks rotate within a notch,46, cut in the shaft 30. and projectinto the plane of rotation of theshaft.

As a means for disarranging the combination automatically upon theremoval of the key from the mechanism, we provide a rack bar 48. slidingin suitable bearings and normally held in retracted position by means ofa coiled spring 50. The upper edge of the rack bar is provided withteeth 49, which mesh with a gear 24, loosely mounted on the shaft 17 butpermitted only limited movement thereon because of the mechanism bestshown in Figs. 4 and 6. It will be seen that we have provided pins 24,rigid with the gear 22, which pins operate in the arcuate slots 24, inthe gear 24. Near the lower edge of the, rack bar 48, are other teethadapted to engagewith a pinion mounted on a shaft 53, and provided witha pawl or clutch mechanism 54, by means of which the pinion may movefreely on the shaft 53. in one direction but be positively connected tothe shaft in the opposite direction. The shaft projects underneath thecombination disks'and carries a gear 55, which meshes with the gear 40,heretofore "described. The arrangement is such that upon turning the keyto the left as viewed in the figures, the rack 48, is moved to theright. as viewed in Fig. 6, because of the cooperation of the pins 24",with the ends of the arcuate slots 24, in the gear 24. Dining suchmovement to the right the pinion 52. is rotated but no motion isimparted to the shaft 53, this being necessarily avoided because of thefact that the combination is set up on the disks and with the key in thenotches 45.

thereof such disks cannot rotate. However,

l 20, in Figs. 3, 7, 8 and 10, we provide a flexible shaft mounted in asuitable casing 28, the

flexible shaft terminating in a shaft 57, to

has

I tively and within which a slide valve 62 is mounted. The upper surfaceof the slide is greater than the width of the pinion 58, and

as the key is turned it closes the valve hereafter referred to and nomotion is imparted to the rack l9, because of the locking thereof by thedisks and the pawls 54, in the pinion 52. However, as the key removedfrom the key-way 31, the disks are relieved and the spring 50, retractsthe rack 48, and spins the disks thus dis-arranging the combinationtheretofore set up. I

As. heretofore indicated, the locking-element is applied to the intakemanifold of the engine between the carbureter and the 7 cylinders. Whenthis conduit is thus closed it is, of course, impossible for any normalaction of the engine to take place, in contradistinction to lockingdevices which are appliedto the gasoleue line which though locked wouldpermit the operation of the engine for some distance because of thefluid contained in the carbureter. As best shown which a pinion 58, isrigidly secured. The shaft 57, is mounted in a casing :39, hav ng topand bottom cover plates 60, 61,v respecprovided with a rack composed ofteeth 63, which are of a width not substantially teeth 64, which areconsiderably wider than the pinion, the latter teeth being so located asto register with the pinion only when'thc valveis in the closed positionshown in the drawings. In this position it will be seen that the pinionmay slide on the face of the valve. The reason for this mechanism is asfollows: Assuming ,that a thief wished to operate the motor for thepurpose of stealing a car, he might with a hack-saw sever the flexibleshaft and its casing and by i I grasping the fiexibleshaft rotate thesame sutiiciently to open the valve. In the present instance this isobviated by providing, within the casing 59, a coiled spring 65, locatedon the shaft 57, and bearing against, the pinion 58, thus tending toforce the pinion to the right as viewed in Fig. 8, this being .covering'the l severed and the shaft pulled back to the" resisted by the shaft57, which cannot be extended except upon severing the shaft at somepoint in its length. Assuming that the shaft has been severed withthevalve in the closed position the spring will force the pinion 58, andthe severed end of the shaft to the right as viewed in Fig. 8,'-whichwill be permitted by the longer teeth 64,

on the surface of-the slide. in this iosition it will be impossible toopen the valve be cause of the lack of rack teeth "or coiiperation withthe pinion. 'Howev r, 'the easing exible shaft/might again he point ofengagement of the pinion with the teeth 63. We have provided againstthis by notching the shaft 57, as at 66, audioeating above the end ofthe shafta vertical,

slidable yoke or catch 67, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 10. This catchis guided by the pins 68, and a coiled spring 69, tends to force thecatch downward. This, however, is resisted in the normal position of theparts by the fact that the opening 70, in the catch is smaller than thediameter of the shaft 57.- Howevenupon severing of the shaft 57, it isforced to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8, until the notch 66, is beneaththe catch 67, which is forced into the notch and effectually preventsthe return of the shaft without taking the casing apart. theseprecautions might be ineffective also if it were possible to remove thevalve casing bodily from its location in the intake conduit. We haveprovided against this by securing the casing in place by means ofsuitable bolts 71, which engage flanges on the respective parts, thesebolts being "of specially hardened steel whicli'prevents their being cutall. Nuts 72,-are applied to the threaded ends of'the bolts and thenutis,

and. bolts are drilled, theaporture througi the bolt being tapped, Afterthe nutis are applied a screw 73, is inserted in the regis- All oftering apertures'and after being properly located is filed or cut. oil.Thus the-only method of removing the valve mech anism from its locationis to drill out the fastening screuywhich of course requires,some coivsiderabletime. ()bviouslv also the cii'sing which contains the flexibleshaft might be 'pa rtiallv sawed through and the shaft rotated by meansof the saw in order to open the valve unless precautions were taken:wainst sucltste )s. \Ve avoid this contingent-y by locking the;llexihle shaft against. movement in the mechanism heretofore demovedfron the casing together. How

over. it was previously cxptained that the shaft 'i-lflacould not beremoved from engagement with the spider 20,.until the pin 32" was inregister with the-notch 20, and these parts are in register only whenthe combination is properly set and the valve in open position. When,the valveris' in closed position the pin and notch are out of register,and the shaft 30, cannot be re-- moved. Thusit follows that the frontof.

the locking mechanism cannot be taken off and the parts operated. untilthe combination is set and the proper key inserted.

As a matter of convenience we may proide an electric light 74, above thedial,; such l'ght being mounted in a reflector or hood "(5, as bestshown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The operation is as follows: The parts may be assumed to be in theposition as shown in the figures with the following exception; In Fig.4, the disks are shown with their slots .45, in register. This is aposition which would not be possible in.any normal operation of themachine inasmuch as upon the removal. of the key the disks aredisarranged. With such understanding, the combination is set up whichwill bring the notches 45, into register with each other and with thekey-way 31, whereupon the key 47, may be inserted and the shaft 17,shifted against the resistance of the spring 18. This will bring the lug17, out of engagement with the notch 17*, and the key may be givenaquarter turn to the left as viewed in Figs. 3 and-5. This servesto openthe shutter or slide 62, and the engine may be operated as usual. Theshaft 17, is

.- maintained in its inner position and the key cannot be removedbecause of the coiipcration of the lug 47*,011 the key with the plate33. 'Wben it is desired to lock the engine, the key is givcnn quarterturn to the right, thus closing the valve whereupon the key is removedand upon its removal t he spring 50, causes a retraction of the rack 48,which spins the combination disks and disarranges the combination. Theparts cannot again be operated until the steps just described have beenrepeated. It will be seen that the key cannot be removed without lockingthe engine and dis-arranging the combination.

It is believed the present construction obviates all possible theft of aca' and is of such construction as to provide for ready ap )lication. tomotor cars. The constructimifherein described is, of course. typicalonly of a multitudeof other forms which a casing, a two-part key shaftin said casing, means for interrupting the supply of combustible fluidto an engine, a flexible shaft connecting said last nanied means to oneof the parts of said two-part key shaft, means for locking said lastnamed part of said two-part key shaft to said casing, a removable keyadapted to disengage said part of the key shaft from interlockingengagenent with said casing and to rotate said key shaft, and acombination lock controlling the key-way slot in said key shaft,substantially as described.

2. .ln a locking device for automobiles, the combination of a casing, aclosure for an open side of said casing, a key-actuated shaft extendedthrough said closure, and means preventing the removal of said closurewhen said shaft is in locked position, substantially as described.

In a locking device for automobiles, the combination of a casing, ayalve-actuat ing shaft which terminates in said casing, a key-actuatedshaft, gearing connecting said shafts, a closure for an open side ofsaid casing, and means associated with said key-actuated shaft forpreventing the removal of said closure when said last named shaft is inlocked position, substantially as described. c

4. In a locking dcvice .for automobiles,

the combination of a casing having one open side only, a. closure forsaid open side,

- and means for locking said closure in posicasing, means on saidrotatable member adapted when in one position to engage a rigid stopwithin the casing, and a key for actuating said rotatable member, thearrangement being such that said closure may not bo removed from thecasing until said rotatable member is actuated by said key to unlocksaid automobile locking element, substantially as described. I

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 1st day of February, 1915.

EDWIN ROGERS.

EDVVIN \YILLIAM ROGERS.

\Vitnesses: w

\Vinmmr J. \Voon.

